Date:         Mon, 1 Jan 2024 10:24:33 -0500
Reply-To:     Ray Brubaker <rayandmerle@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ray Brubaker <rayandmerle@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: CV bolt rounded -- what to do?
In-Reply-To:  <38328d31-0b84-4267-883f-ccf7acf5fa90@cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

Be aware! Any hammering on this bolt goes through the ball bearing that is
part of the wheel bearing system. Heavy hammering can cause the balls to
dent the races causing shorter bearing life. These are robust bearings but
no bearing should be hammered on if you want it to have a long life.

Ray

On Sun, Dec 31, 2023 at 9:15 PM Mark Drillock <madvws@cox.net> wrote:

> The 6mm allen bit is slightly smaller than 1/4".
> I buy a 1/4" allen bit, file a slight taper on the 6 edges of the tip.
> Then hammer it into the rounded out 6mm hole, using heavy blows.
> Then unscrew the bolt.
>
> VW used many 6mm allen bolts on many of their vehicles.
> I have used this method lots of times, including CV bolts.
>
> Mark
>
> On 12/31/2023 5:08 PM, Rick Cooper wrote:
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I've got a noisy CV joint and thought I would remove and repair it
> today.  But I managed to round off one of the twelve 6mm Allen socket-head
> bolts so that I cannot break the last bolt free.  Unfortunately it is on
> the outside CV joint so it inaccessible by most tools.
> >
> > Has anyone had this experience and can offer any advice?  Am I stuck
> drilling out/off the head of the bolt?  And then how do I remove the shaft
> from the wheel assembly since it will be challenging, even with joint out
> of the way, to get a good hold on it with vice-grips?
> >
> > Thanks for any help.
> >
> > Rc
>